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I was awake before Bardiche rang out his alarm to tell me it was time to get up. In fact, I had spent the last little while staring at the ceiling of what I knew to be a forward room. Nanoha had given me my room number and Hayate set it to accept me sometime last night when I was having dinner with my friend. Although they called it a 'special room for important guests', I still couldn't help but feel awkward. Here I am, in my home base, laying in a bed that didn't belong to me. I was still slightly in shock from everything that had happened, but I knew that I had to put it behind me and look for a solution rather than mope around.

Alternatives II
By: Satashi

Fate walked down the hallway leading to Nanoha's room briskly. Having being given clothes to wear, the blonde found herself in a standard base uniform that didn't fit quite right but still felt better than her dirty enforcer attire. When she made it to Nanoha' door, she stopped herself from just entering now that she was stored in the device via password, and instead knocked.

"Come in!" A perky voice came from inside. The door swished open and Fate looked around, spying Nanoha at her tiny kitchen. "Good morning, did you sleep well?"

"No, but I rested enough." Fate told the truth, which got her a look that was mixed between sympathy and amusement. "Did you sleep okay? you didn't wake up too early did you?" The blonde smelt the freshly baked biscuits and bacon before she saw the pan on the stove and light in the oven.

"I woke up on my own, don't worry." Nanoha waved her hand over her wheelchair control orb and went to the refrigerator. "How do you like your eggs?"

"Scrambled... mind if I join in?"

"Some hostess I am, letting my guest do all the work."

"I like cooking." Fate moved by Nanoha and started cracking shells. "You want yours over easy with extra pepper, cooked in the bacon grease right?"

"That's kind of creepy." Nanoha mused, not sure if she was enjoying this or was weirded out by it. "Tell me, how did I make the biscuits?"

"If you're referring to adding in honey, I know your mother taught you to do that when you were young."

Nanoha hummed and simply watched the girl cook. "I'd really like to meet me in your world. It must be nice having someone know so much about you."

"You're about the same, from what I can tell..."

"...I'm sorry, I was being selfish. We'll get you back, don't worry. I'm sure Hayate-chan will want us to meet with her first thing this morning."

"What about your students?"

"Vita-chan can handle them for the morning lessons, this is more important. We have to get you registered while you are here so you won't be in trouble. Last night's battle will be covered by the civilian collaborator contract, but you need to be in the records for now on."

"Yeah..." Fate finished their breakfast while Nanoha removed the now cooked sides. "I just realized I won't have my rank anymore..." Her lips turned up into a small grin. "Should I salute you?" The joke made Nanoha giggle to herself and Fate took comfort in hearing the familiar sound.

Spoiler for AlternativeS 2-2:

Just as soon as the two sat down together, A beeping sound came from Nanoha's wheelchair. "Raising Heart, connect please." The command allowed a monitor to appear in front of the girl and Hayate's image formed on it almost instantly. "Good morning, Hayate-chan."

"Already planning on it." Reaching up, she tiled the screen to show Fate was next to her. The blonde smiled and gave a small wave which was returned. "Do you have any idea on what could have put her here?"

Hayate shook her head. "I haven't had time to do anything other than talk to everyone in our room last night. Shamal seems to think she could have come through a dimensional rift, but the chances of that are so low it’s hard to believe. Anyway, I have some people on it. For now, I need her signed as a collaborator before the T.S.A.B swoop in and try to have her signed on. Is that okay, Fate-chan?"

"Yes, that is fine." Fate nodded at the screen. "Nanoha was just telling me that."

"Please." The two friends nodded at each other and the communication was cut off. "See? Hayate-chan is always on top of things."

"She is." The blonde agreed and a small bit of silence passed over them as they ate, interrupted only by raising Heart's update on the weather, Nanoha's schedule, and the sounds of utensils tapping their plates.

Once breakfast was over, the two girls headed down out to take care of their business, stopping once they reached the front door. "Raising Heart wasn't kidding when she said high chances of rain today," Nanoha mused while looking out at the drizzling rain.

Nanoha gave Fate an amused look but still allowed girl to hold the shield over them both as they walked to the adjacent building. From there they went up to Hayate's office and the blonde found herself answering questions that both made her grin and sigh out at the same time. Once the paperwork was completed Hayate gave a satisfied nod and began ushering them downstairs once more so they could go give Fate her official ranking test. Their trip was interrupted just moments after they left the main building by Lexus standing in front of them, an umbrella held over his head by none other than a reluctant looking Teana.

Lexus greeted them with a smirk and stepped forward to Fate, making Tea move along with him. "Hello there, Blondie. I did some research and it appeaser you aren't with the T.S.A.B. yet."

"I am a civilian collaborator, and don't call me Blondie." Fate frowned at him but still let her eyes drift to Tea for a brief moment.

"My assistant, Teana." Lexus pointed to the girl. "Not worth anything on the field but she's helpful when I need someone to carry something for me." His words made the girl with him bite down a growl. "Anyway, Hot Legs, why not join my battalion? I have much better resources then these clowns. What do you say?"

"My name is Fate." The woman stated firmly.

"Ooh, my destiny, I like that."

Nanoha chose that moment to interrupt. "Don't hit on my friends."

"Jealous I've never hit on you? Can't see what fun you'll be without moving your hips arou-" His words cut off when a palm connected firmly with his cheek.

"Do not address my friends in such a manor." Fate told him, voice going from her usual soft tone to holding a faint edge to it. "I won't tolerate anyone insulting people I care for."

Lexus licked his lips and looked at Fate with a new interest, left hand going to touch his slapped cheek. "I want you even more now. Have you taken your mage exam test yet?"

"I have not," Fate answered simply.

"Tell you what," stepping closer to her, he forced Teana to lean the umbrella to keep him dry, even though her back was now getting wet. "Let me review you. If I win, you join my battalion, in more ways than one."

Fate felt her body grow stiff, red tinting her cheeks when she realized what the last part meant. Despite this, she still didn't move from him, and answered back calmly. "When I win, that girl with you will join our battalion, and you will address Hayate and Nanoha by their ranks."

Fate nodded and began walking as well, ignoring the astonished look on Tea's face at her sudden involvement with people she didn't even know.

The training area, now free from its morning inhabitants, was quickly changed to form a fake city on it, leaving Fate standing on one building on the east side while Lexus was on the West. The blonde ran her thumb over Bardiche and felt her clothes shift and change around her before forming a barrier jacket to protect herself. 'I don't care if you harass me,' she thought bitterly as a monitor came up in front of her, informing her of how the ranking test would work. 'But I will never forgive anyone who insults my family or friends.'

On the sidelines, Hayate stood with crossed arms. Monitors floated all around her and a firm frown was on her face. "This isn't what I had in mind for today."

Nanoha nodded lightly, moving her hands out to make sure all the necessary information would be recorded and documented. "He is a triple-A plus mage. Fate-chan said she was S, but her performance last night would only suggest a double-A... Was she holding back so she could record for us?"

"... For her sake, I hope so..." Her eyes moved to look at Tea standing next to them. 'And why did she bet that that girl would be transferred to me...? I'm getting too laid back in my old age.' Smirking at the inside joke, Hayate finally pushed the screen to confirm the battle to start. 'Good luck, Fate-chan.'

Spoiler for Alternatives 2-3:

Fate looked out over the make-shift abandoned city from her position on top of a large office building. The screen by her stated that the test was now in progress and she gripped Bardiche a little tighter. "Bardiche?"

"Scan complete, sir." He spoke back calmly. "Enemy is across the field, coming at running speed. ETA is three minutes."

"How impatient, he should have waited for us to come to him." The blonde moved her hand out and placed several binding spells along the ground. "He isn't powerful enough to test us properly... Looks like we will have to be evaluated again once this is over."

"Sir," Bardiche's tone made Fate hesitate leaving the building. "Our situation is weird, please do not be careless."

"...You're right." Fate lifted her hand once more and focused, forming several daggers of energy around herself. "As weird as everything has been, I can not afford to be careless... Especially after he called Nanoha that."

"Yes sir."

Fate frowned to herself and leaped off the building, dropping down to the ground and darting forward. Lexus made it just as she expected and began dodging the sprung traps, twisting and jumping through the yellow binds. When the last one was sprung, his left leg was snared, making him look back in shock. Taking the opportunity, Fate engaged and swung her scythe down hard.

Lexus yelled as his barrier jacket ripped open and barely managed to block the next attack, leaving himself open for several yellow energy daggers to break his auto barrier. The male broke the bind on himself and jumped back, recollecting himself and staring at the blonde who didn't press her advantage. "What's the matter!? Scared you won't do as well after a surprise attack!?"

"Bardiche."

"Yes sir." The device was lifted and circles appeared around them, forming small darts of yellow energy that burst forth, triggering several trap spells that were placed as Lexus retreated.

"Che, you would be a smart one." Making a taunting motion, Lexus smirked at her. "I want you even more now. Tell you what, join me and I'll even let the whore come too."

"Sir." Bardiche's voice made the blonde stop before she lunged at him.

Taking a breath, Fate cooled down and spoke at the man again. "Why are you such a pervert?"

Lexus shrugged. "Guess its in my DNA." Fate twirled Bardiche and walked in a half circle on the mostly destroyed road. Lexus made the other half as they circled each other slowly. Their eyes met and each ran forward. Lexus reacted faster, drawing his device and pointing a gun at Fate and shooting. The magical bullet met it's target and hit the blonde square in the chest before ripping through her back side. "What-the!?"

Fate appeared behind the man as her after-image faded away. A small moment was taken to charge her attack before she slashed her scythe down, the blade pulsating larger than normal. As the man fell forward, Fate caught his collar and pulled him back so she could whisper into his ear firmly. "If you ever look at my wife in a perverted manor again, I won't hold back." When her words were done she let go of him and allowed him to fall onto the ground defeated.

As monitors appeared around Fate, Lexus smirked to himself through the pain in his back. 'So, she does have a weakness...'

Spoiler for AlternativeS 2-4:

~**~

"Fate-chan!" Nanoha's voice made the girl look up and smile at her.

The blonde walked up the ramp leading to the instructor observatory and stood next to Nanoha, red eyes scanning the video image feeds all around her. "Sorry for having to run earlier. Hayate needed me to fill out paperwork and schedule another testing time."

"No problem, she told me before she went to the field to get you. I had to deal with Teana's transfer anyway. Did you get an earful?"

Fate felt a small smile come to her face. "Yes, Hayate scolded me for making that deal and was going to turn it down but Lexus expelled Tea from his base."

"At least my work wasn't for nothing then. I already have her situated in my books."

Fate licked her lips as the screen came up. "Hey...can I ask a favor?"

"Mm?" Nanoha tapped the floating keyboards around herself to make the students training on the field have to swap tactics.

"Can you place Tea with Subaru?"

"Why?" Nanoha looked over at Fate curiously. "That would be a very awkward and inconvenient move for all of our parts. Subaru is a close combat mage while Teana seems to use a pistol. I need to consider Teana's points before I transfer away from where I placed her."

"...Please?"

Nanoha blinked and looked up at Fate once more. "...Why?"

"Its just... in my time, they are forwards... placed directly under your personal training. They improved more than anyone I've ever seen and... well, Tea is my partner when I go on long distance missions."

Nanoha leaned back in her wheelchair and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "The C-ranked mage you forced on me is now suddenly one of my best students who runs with a S ranked mage?"

"Yes."

"Hayate-chan was right, you're really annoying." With a grin, Nanoha glanced up at Fate before typing on her keyboards again. "However, your request will really throw me off. I can't justify this, it just doesn't make any sense."

Fate leaned against the guard rail and looked out over the training field with distant eyes. "I know the feeling."

The blue eyed girl stayed silent for a long moment before heaving out a long sigh. "Hayate-chan is going to yell at me for this."

"Thank you. I will train them myself."

"Nooooo, you're a civilian collaborator, not an instructor. Jeez, does the other Nanoha have to keep you on a leash as well?"

Fate smirked, a playful tint coming to her eyes as she turned to look over her shoulder. "Yes, yes she does."

'What have I gotten into?' Nanoha thought while tapping away on her keyboards. 'I was fine with it when she was just affecting me, but now she's barged into my work and... Maybe Hayate-chan was right, maybe she is here to throw us off balance for some reason...' Eying the blonde looking out over the field, she felt a small tear at her heart. 'But nobody can pretend to be that sad and confused... Even with that smile on her face, I can tell she is about to cry. Just like that girl so long ago, her feelings pour out through her eyes... as if she's screaming for help but can't form the words...'

"You're sighing an awful lot today," Fate told her softly before turning around completely to sit against the railing. "I'm sorry for being so selfish."

"No... I just... I don't know." Nanoha shook her head. "Fate-chan, I'm sorry but can we meet up later? I need to focus on my students."

"Yes, I'm sorry." Fate's tone turned sad almost at once.

'Aw, she probably came to me because she felt alone...' Before Nanoha could speak up again an new voice called Fate's attention.

"Fate." Signum walked to the bottom of the ramp and met the blonde's eyes. "I need you to come with me for a moment."

"Okay." walking down ramp, she gave Signum a curious look. "What is it, Signum?"

Signum stopped to get a drink from a vending machine and waved her device over it again, putting in enough credits for Fate to get one as well. "Mistress Hayate requested for me to accompany you to the bank to set up an account, as well as try and get some more information from you regarding your situation."

Fate picked her drink and smiled while bending over to get it. "You don't trust me."

"I don't."

"I understand." Fate fell into step beside her and walked along the sidewalk. "Later... Lets have a sparing match."

"Why?" Signum eyed her without turning her head.

"Because you and I both can feel someone's emotions when fighting them."

"How do you know that?"

"Because..." Fate whispered softly. "You're my role model. The one I always looked up to and sought advice from."

"... Fine, we will spar later."

"Thank you, Signum."

"Don't thank me yet." A small giggle made her look at Fate curiously. "What?"

"I'm just relieved... Everyone is the same."

"...We can get lunch while we're out too."

"Thank you."

Spoiler for AlternativeS 2-5:

~**~

"That was awkward." The understatement made Signum repress the urge to scoff at the blonde trailing her. "I'm sorry, really."

"You could have at least come up with a story before we got inside the bank." Signum spoke back flatly, clearly annoyed at the embarrassing act. "I thought Hayate and you would have surely discussed what you would put down on the paper. I'm sure Nanoha is thrilled."

"I can't help it, it was instinct!"

"Writing down that you are married and live with the top instructor on this planet isn't something that comes as instinct. You're lucky Nanoha played along with it. I'm sure you saw how embarrassed she was."

"...Yes." Fate sighed and sat in Signum's sports car, closing the door almost too softly to latch. "I've caused so much trouble since I showed up... I really don't know how to apologize for it all."

"Start by thinking more." Signum started the engine and looked over her shoulder to back out of the parking space. "Am I really your role model? I expected better."

"...You don't have to rub it in." Fate's tone made the older woman exhale a defeated breath.

"Okay... Okay, I apologize for getting upset. Don't get all whiny on me... How do I normally deal with you when you do this?"

"I know." Fate felt a little of her energy come back. "You always hide the fact that you do it. Not even Vita knows, and you do it to her too."

Signum stiffened slightly. "That's very creepy. Knowing things about me that I do not wish you to is very unnerving."

"Yeah," Fate looked out the window. "I've been getting that all day. No matter how casual I try to be, it still freaks people out when I talk like I've known them forever... Tell me, Signum... If you were in my place, how would you handle it?"

The swordsman hesitated her response, rolling the question over in her head as she drove them down the roads in the capital. Finally, after contemplating it for several long moments, she answered. "I would tell you something that there was no way you could know unless we were as close as you say. Having people support you and take you seriously without doubt would be the best way to stay stable."

Fate nodded. "This is embarrassing."

"Say it."

"You have a cosplay fetish, and Shamal dresses you up when you make love. Hayate makes them for you, and you pose in them to satisfy her and not let her know what you two do with them... Also, you-"

"You have a mole on your inner thigh that looks like a star? Because anyone who bathes with you would know that."

"...You impress me." Signum nodded to herself. "But might I ask... How did you get that information?"

Fate grimaced. "When we were younger I caught you two doing it several times but I never understood it until after Nanoha and I made love the first time when we were sixteen... I couldn't look at you in the face for weeks."

"Good..." Signum felt a small grin come to her face. "Well then, Fate, how do you feel now?"

"...Better." Looking at her lap, she played with her fingers. "I'm sure you will understand more when we spar tonight but... I'm glad you gave me a chance. I don't like it when you don't trust me."

"We'll discuss that topic more over lunch, where do you want to eat?"

"Well Fuji's isn't open yet so....."

"Fuji's?"

"Yes?" Fate thought about the bar. "Oh... That's right, I directly had an impact on that place... Since Nanoha isn't an Ace and I wasn't there to find it... Kuhn couldn't have opened his bar." Groaning, the blonde leaned back in her seat. "I don't know then, you pick."

"Okay." The woman flicked her wrist and turned on the car's blinker, moving over to take a turn. "I know a good place."

~**~

Hayate looked up from her monitor when a knock came at her office door. "Come in." Her words granted Fate access and she smiled at the woman walking up to her. "Ah, special collaborator Fate." Standing, she walked over to the front of her desk and saluted. "Allow me to officially welcome you to my base."

"Thank you," Fate saluted back before getting casual. "I'll do anything I can to help while I'm here. Thank you again for helping me as well."

"I have people on your case already, investigating where you woke up and searching for anything that could be related. We don't have much to work with so the best I can say is that I'll contact you the moment we find out anything."

Fate shook her head. "I just need a bath. By the way, could I get a small advance on my pay? I need to buy a few things while I'm here."

"I'm sorry, but you're only stationed here. I don't have any control over you except for your duties. Your pay comes from the T.S.A.B directly. I can loan you some of mine though."

"Ah, I'd feel bad... Maybe I can just borrow some clothes from Nanoha until I get my first check."

"If you change your mind, don't hesitate. By the way, did you really put down Nanoha as your wife on the bank application?" The embarrassed look on the girl's face made Hayate put a hand on her hip. "I'm sure Nanoha won't mind, but please don't get her upset okay?"

"I won't."

"Nanoha is... very weird in that area." Hayate thought about how to word what she was thinking. All the time growing up she felt like she wasn't part of her family. Same with the times I've known her as well. People love her, I love her, but she has never truely felt love before. You know what I mean?"

"She desperatly wants someone to be in love with her. I know, she was like that with me as well."

"But you were there... you weren't for my Nanoha. Do you get what I'm saying?"

Fate nodded. "I love my Nanoha. I would never cheat on her, even if its with the same girl in another time line. She is Nanoha, but she's not my Nanoha."

Hayate smiled and gave a relieved chuckle. "Thank you, that makes me feel so much better. I was worried that when you left... it might hurt her."

Fate started walking with Hayate as she closed down her office and walked towards the door. "Don't worry, I don't think she'd fall for me that easily. Nanoha and I danced around each other for years before we started dating. In fact, it was you who brought us together."

"Really?" She tilted her head curiously.

"It was at a sleep over, you dared her to ask out her crush to the dance at school. You got her phone and called her crush and... my phone rang. I remember looking at it and slowly picking it up. I brought it to my ear and looked at Nanoha, who quickly turned away from me and looked down at her lap... Then she meekly told me hello and asked if I had a date yet. It was the cutest thing you would have ever seen. I thought she would pass out, her ears were so red."

With a giggle, Hayate shook her head. "That would be so amusing. Nanoha is so independent it is hard to imagine her all shy blushy."

"Blushy? Is that a word?"

"Its a technical term." Hayate smiled as they walked to the residential area. "Nanoha normally takes a bath in her room so I'm sure she won't mind you taking one there as well. She doesn't like people offering to help her, gets really touchy about it."

"Sounds like her."

"I know, right? One time I offered to carry her to the bathtub and she got really upset. She never lets anyone carry her anywhere, its like her pet peeve."

"Really?" Fate stopped walking and looked at her with a confused look. "I carried her to bed last night and she seemed rather pleased."

Fate scratched her head before placing her hand on her hip. "Odd, maybe she was just too tired to say anything."

"Must have been being polite," Hayate agreed. "Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay," Fate nodded and left the elevator once it was on her floor. The short walk was made and she found herself standing in front of Nanoha's door. 'I hope she isn't upset about earlier...' Taking a breath to steady herself, Fate knocked on the door leading into Nanoha's loft. A call from inside bade her entrance and she made her way into the overly large room. "I'm back," she called testingly, seeing Nanoha move over from behind the kitchen cabinets and face her.

"I don't mind." Nanoha mused, turning her chair around and going back to the kitchen to finish preparing her drink. "You could have told me beforehand, though. I was contacted in front of all my students as I was dismissing them. Now they are all asking me weird questions."

"I'm sorry..." Fate looked down.

"Don't get all pouty on me. Like I said, I don't mind. I'm your wife after all, that's kind of neat. I've never even been on a date and now I have a wife. I should call my parents."

"Don't suppose you have scotch?" The girl cocked an eyebrow at her. "I don't drink often, but I could use something to mellow me down right now."

"Sorry, don't have any. I have some frozen daiquiri mix and some rum?"

"Thanks but I can't handle the sweetness." Fate moved to the large couch and fell down on it.

Nanoha moved over to her and lifted her arms. The wheelchair shifted and two bars came out for her to grab, allowing the girl to easily move so she was sitting on the couch as well. "So," Once she was set, the wheelchair moved away from them. "Other than looking like a nervous wreck, how was your day?"

"Bad... Good... I'm not sure." Looking down, Fate moved her hands out in a helpless gesture. "I mean, everything is going okay and my day wasn't really that bad, it's just..."

"You're not where you want to be."

"Yeah... which is weird, because this is exactly where I want to be."

"Tell me," Nanoha picked up a pillow from the couch and sat it on her lap. "What do I normally do when you're upset?"

"Rub my back and make advances on me." Fate smiled at the thought. "You're really physical. I remember you telling me that you couldn't express how you felt with words so you tried to do it in a way that would show me."

"Its okay, you're my wife after all." Nanoha laughed at the statement. "That's so weird to say, I like it. Come on, lets go upstairs and I'll rub your back. Its the least I can do for you fighting for me this morning. Besides, I heard what you said to Lexus."

"...Yeah, you could say that. Not a day goes by without me thinking about Nanoha."

The girl leaned to Fate more. "Then let me help you out for a change. Lets go upstairs... Carry me?"

Spoiler for AlternativeS 2-6:

Fate hesitated, blinking at the innocent eyes gazing at her. "Okay." Nanoha held out her arms and wrapped them around Fate's neck when the blonde shifted to slide hers under Nanoha's body. With ease, Fate lifted her up and stood, walking around the coffee table to avoid the girl's wheelchair. 'But Hayate told me...'

Nanoha leaned against Fate briefly before wrinkling her nose and pulling back. "Ew, you stink."

"I didn't have time to shower after my session with Signum," the blonde mused lightly. "I was hoping you would let me take a shower, as well as borrow some clothes until I can buy some for myself?"

"Sure, I don't mind." Nanoha felt herself being sat on the bed and she placed her arms behind herself to prop up. "Should I tell you where I keep my clothes?"

"Well, considering we split our drawers and closet and agreed on where to place them, I'm not sure. But then again, you kept the other stuff in that drawer, so I'm assuming nightgowns in here." Fate opened the top drawer of the nightstand and pulled out a pink button up. "I don't suppose you took interest in nighties did you?"

"They reveal too much." Nanoha replied simply.

"But you like showing off." She got a curious look and a blush. "Ah, you see, the Nanoha I know always... flashes..."

"I flash people!?"

"Not that much! Just like... short skirts and stuff..." Fate scratched her cheek. "It really makes me frantic... you told me you do it just to see me blush most of the time."

"...Most?"

Fate looked away. "Sure you're not uncomfortable?"

Picking up on the shy tone, Nanoha leaned forward with a grin and looped her hands under her knees to pull them up so her feet were on the bed and so she could rest her chin on her knees while holding them. "Is that why you got so upset about Lexus talking to me like that?"

"...Yeah, I'm.. just really protective... not really the best thing in the world when courting an exhibitionist." Fate flushed and shook her head. "I shouldn't-"

"Tell me more." Nanoha's words made Fate look back at her with a shocked expression. The girl on the bed simply smiled, eyes not wavering. "We're close enough to have sex, right? What is it like? What am I like?"

"Y-you're..." Fate stammered, closing the drawer and opening the one under it, getting a pair of sweatpants. "Its... I dunno... just..."

"You're really shy, aren't you?"

"...Yes, please don't tease me like this."

"Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?" Nanoha giggled to herself. 'No wonder my other self does that, she looks so adorable when she's stammering.' After letting the girl frantically try to think of something to say for a few moments, Nanoha continued. "So... Fate-chan?"

"Y-yes...?"

"If I wore a short skirt tomorrow... would you protect me?" Resting her cheek on her knee now, Nanoha simply looked up at the girl for an answer.

"D-don't say silly things." Fate finished raiding the drawer for clothes and made her way to the bathroom and the connected shower. "I'll be out in a bit, okay?"

"I'll be waiting." Nanoha watched her new friend close the bathroom door with a smile on her lips. 'How interesting...' Reaching over to Fate's discarded enforcer outfit, she placed it over her shoulders to get a little warmth. "Raising Heart, can you turn up the temperature two degrees?" The orb on her wheelchair flashed and confirmed the action. "Hmmm..." The though was vocalized as the sounds of the shower sprang to life behind her. 'She's such a cute girl, and very possessive.'

Closing her eyes, Nanoha allowed herself to fall to the side, plopping down on the bed while still hugging her knees. 'The other me is so brave... but then again, if it meant having someone honestly get flustered over me then...' An honest smile came to her lips. 'Someone getting protective because I belong to them... Wanting nobody else to see what is theirs.' A giddy laugh came from her as she thought about it. 'I'd love to see that. Just hearing her say that to Lexus today made me feel warm... And her claiming me as her wife...'

Rolling onto her back, Nanoha looked up at the ceiling with her arms spread out. 'I've always wanted someone to do that for me. To honestly be interested in me, to ask me how my day was all the time and not get bored of hearing the same stories...' Looking up at the white ceiling, Nanoha listened to the sounds of water hitting the shower floor. 'Fate-chan knows everything about me, even my most embarrassing things. She's seen me naked, made love to me, and still smiles that way whenever my name is mentioned.'

Letting her head fall to the side, Nanoha looked at her nightstand. 'I've waned to have this feeling for as long as I can remember... To be gazed at with love and acceptance... To be told I mean the most in their life.' Pushing herself up, she scooted so she could move her legs off the bed and sit by her drawer, opening it up and rooting around until she found a see-through white bra. 'If I put this on... would she look at me like that?' She ran the lacy fabric over between her thumb and forefinger. 'For some reason, I feel shy... like her seeing my body would make me really embarrassed... Is that what its like when wanting someone else to see you like that? This feeling... of excitement and happiness?'

Looking at the undergarment for a while longer, Nanoha shook her head and put it back into the drawer. 'I can't... My heart is beating so fast.' Holding her hands together over her chest, she stared at the floor with a dark blush. 'I want her to see me in it but... I don't. I'm scared she may not find me attractive... but I know she does! It's not fair, she knows me inside and out but know so little about her!'

Nanoha frowned and laid back on the bed once more. 'I want to know her more...I want to understand her like she does me... I want... I want her to refer to ME when she speaks my name.' A firm nod came at the thoughts. 'I was sent an angel out of nowhere, and I don't want to let this opportunity pass.' Gripping the enforcer jacket that fell off her shoulders, she moved it to become a makeshift blanket over her. 'She was sent here for a reason...I want that reason to be me.' Hugging herself, Nanoha closed her eyes happily as the water cut off from the bathroom. 'This is the feeling I've longer for, for so long.'

Spoiler for AlternativeS 2-7:

Nanoha looked over at Fate as the door opened, smiling to herself as the blonde walked into her bedroom. Slightly damp hair was still being dried and the black tank top Fate had picked out lightly flashed her stomach as her hands fussed with her hair. A pair of matching black shorts were claimed as well, completing Fate's evening wear. "You look nice in that," Nanoha said honestly. "You like black don't you?"

"Black, purple, and gold, my three favorite colors." Sitting on the bed, Fate went about combing her hair with the brush she had nicked from the bathroom. "If you're cold, you should adjust your heat or you may get sick."

"I did, it just takes a moment for it to happen. Besides, I like your jacket, it’s nice." The girl smiled innocently. "Enjoy your shower?"

"Yes, thank you. I needed one after today." Fate continued to mess with her hair until it was tangle free, then pulled it into a ponytail to stay out of her way until it dried completely. "What time is it?"

"I had to take care of it earlier when I transferred Teana into Subaru's room. Turns out they trained together for a while. I accepted Subaru after she failed her B-rank mage test. Teana was accepted into Lexus' base as a low level cadet as well. She has been doing odd jobs around the base, but not much actual combat or training." Giving a light sigh, she shook her head. "This is going to be such a headache."

"I can help." The blonde shifted so she was sitting next to Nanoha. "I know I'm not an instructor, but I can still assist you. It’s not like I have anything else to do. Go over tomorrow's training plan with me, I can be on the field as you instruct."

"Do you normally help me out training?" Nanoha stretched out her upper half before moving to a sitting position with her legs out in front of her.

Fate glanced at Nanoha's legs before shaking her head. "No, I only sometimes go on the field. Maybe once a week or so for special training or a demonstration. Generally I'm too busy doing my office work or making rounds..." Looking at her friend, she finally let out a small sigh. "Can I ask something tasteless?"

"... How are your legs? Is it painful?" Not being able to help herself, she traced a finger along Nanoha’s left shin. "I'm sorry, but it’s so sad seeing you in a wheelchair..."

The girl gave a small giggle at the questions. "No, no, no pain. I've been like this for several years now so it’s just common place now. Besides, I have this entire room customized just for me. All my shelves are the right height, and Raising Heart was incorporated into my Smart Chair. She can change shape to fit my needs, allowing me to do anything from easily getting from my chair to couch, bed, or even from the ground to my chair. She can move very fast, which is always fun to do. Honestly, it’s not much different from walking. Mid's handicap laws are a lot better than Earth’s and the technology is so great, it’s not really a hindrance at all. Besides..." Nanoha leaned forward and ran her hands down her legs, purposely catching Fate's finger between two of hers. "I got like this from magical damage, not physical. I still have active nerves in my legs, so I can feel everything just like normal; I just can't move my muscles."

"I...see." Fate thought about this while Nanoha played with her finger. "That makes me feel a little better." Her red eyed looked at the hand teasing her finger by running her's along it. "You're just like her."

"I am her," Nanoha countered simply with a smile, tugging on Fate's finger playfully. "I owe you a back rub."

"Ah, you don't have to-"

"Really, come on." Nanoha pulled on the finger between hers a few times, urging Fate to move closer to her. "On your stomach." She watched Fate reluctantly lay down and shifted herself so she was sitting beside her friend. Palms pressing against Fate's back, she began to contently rub. "Sorry, I'm not very good at this. If I press too hard let me know."

"I like it hard." Fate mumbled down into her pillow. "I'm weird like that."

"Like..." Nanoha thought about how to expand on her question. "Your favorite food?"

"Roast chicken."

"Drink?"

"Dr.Pepper, on ice in a glass only. Scotch on the rocks for alcoholic."

"Clothes?"

Fate chuckled. "You're an inquisitive little thing tonight." The hands on her back pressed down and ran up her spine, making her almost fall asleep while answering. "Anything black. I like skirts, stockings and pantyhose. Denim is nice, and if I can get away with it, shoulder less, fuzzy shirts."

"Shoulder less?" Nanoha hummed. "And you say you don't like me being revealing?"

"You're different..." Fate yawned, moving her hands under the pillow and getting comfortable.

"Underclothes?"

"Black and lacy...I like frills." Fate started to mumble as Nanoha went to her shoulders.

The girl sitting on the bed smiled to herself, watching Fate's sleepy face slowly start to drift off as she rubbed. 'Well, now I know what clothes to buy you while you're here... It's not much, but it’s a start. I can make a run to town during lunch and have Vita cover for me if I'm a little late, she'll understand.' Several minutes passed by in silence before Nanoha heard soft snoring sounds. Her hands paused and she curiously leaned over to look at Fate, smiling happily at the cute sounds she was making. 'She's adorable when she's asleep... Well, sleep sweet, Fate-chan.' With that, she pet Fate's back twice before carefully shifting get in her wheelchair and then pull the covers over the girl.

(T/////T) why!

Fate already has her own Nanoha. She and AltNanoha can just be friends.
I'm still rooting for Fate and the original Nanoha.

'cause life's being a real bitch to her. Seriously it's not fair. Here she is, living this meh life. She has friends and family but she's a cripple who can't do the job she loved. And she doesn't have ~+~Romance~+~ in her life, which automatically means she fails as a human being (that, for those uninformed, was sarcasm.)

Then what does fate (note the little letter) do? Drops Fate on her, and with Fate (the insensitive jerk ) comes the details of the life she could have had but didn't because AltS!Fate was a foolish foolish fool. ... That. Sucks. Ass. I can't really get over how freakin' unfair and cruel her situation is.

Of course she is taking advantage of that situation. But really can you blame her?

The only way *True happy end* could ever happen would be if say, the Fate we see isn't the Fate we think she is. Picture this, the Fate in the AltS world is nothing more then a Neverwas, the potential of that world's Fate had she not died, coincidentally that Fate is also known as our Fate. We haven't seen the Nanoha World we know and love. For all we know Real!Fate is off there being happy while Neverwas!Fate just thinks that's where she belongs, while in reality she doesn't. :3

either that or AltS!Nanoha falls for Hayate, I'm all for that.

Btw: wouldn't it be fun if Jail Scaglietti was more like the Someone For Everyone Jail >:3 search your feelings you know it to be true Satashi.

I'd like to take a moment and say I'm overwhelmed by how everyone is rooting for a specific pairing and stuff for AlternativeS <3

I love you guys, I hope I can make you as happy reading as I feel writing for you ^_^ (sorry that sounds so cheesy, but I really mean it!)

PS Ala-chan, I put your art in my fanart album because I love it so much <3

What can we say, your writings ROCK! XD

And go for it! I did those drawings for everyone's enjoyment! :3
*cries* I'm glad that you like them though!

Quote:

Ah! I got it! Why I'm rooting for AltS!Nanoha.

'cause life's being a real bitch to her. Seriously it's not fair. Here she is, living this meh life. She has friends and family but she's a cripple who can't do the job she loved. And she doesn't have ~+~Romance~+~ in her life, which automatically means she fails as a human being (that, for those uninformed, was sarcasm.)

Then what does fate (note the little letter) do? Drops Fate on her, and with Fate (the insensitive jerk ) comes the details of the life she could have had but didn't because AltS!Fate was a foolish foolish fool. ... That. Sucks. Ass. I can't really get over how freakin' unfair and cruel her situation is.

Of course she is taking advantage of that situation. But really can you blame her?

The only way *True happy end* could ever happen would be if say, the Fate we see isn't the Fate we think she is. Picture this, the Fate in the AltS world is nothing more then a Neverwas, the potential of that world's Fate had she not died, coincidentally that Fate is also known as our Fate. We haven't seen the Nanoha World we know and love. For all we know Real!Fate is off there being happy while Neverwas!Fate just thinks that's where she belongs, while in reality she doesn't. :3

either that or AltS!Nanoha falls for Hayate, I'm all for that.

Btw: wouldn't it be fun if Jail Scaglietti was more like the Someone For Everyone Jail >:3 search your feelings you know it to be true Satashi.

You said it Shiny!

And I'm going to pretend I didn't see your Star Wars reference...

Quote:

Yes, the images are appearing for me now, thanks!

Someone needs to resurrect AltS!Fate and AltS!Alicia for Nanoha to look after.

Really? That's great! XD I was actually thinking putting the images as thumbnails like last time.

Location: Somewhere over the rainbow, in a house dropped on an ugly, old woman.

Tossing this up, part 3 of Recollections of a Lost Age. Enjoy. If there's some glaring error, let me know. Otherwise I'll throw it up on ff.net tomorrow or something, where you can find the first two parts. This one finishes up Signum's part, and goes into Zafiras. Halfway done with Chapter 4, Shamal's part, which should be done in a day or so. Really feeling the creative juices flowin' on this.

Spoiler for Chapter 3: Fangs and Shields:

Recollections of a Lost Age
Chapter 3: Fangs and Shields

Zanth drifted closer. “Yes, kill her! With her consciousness dead, I can take over her body. It's not much, but it's a start!”

Signum whirled and Zanth's expression changed into surprise as he sputtered, his face dropping to see his stomach impaled by her sword.

“Explosion!” her sword sounded back, almost sounding chipper while it loaded two cartridges.

“Dragon Flash Burst!” she nearly whispered to Zanth's widening eyes.

Zanth's body nearly exploded into heat and light as the Belkan Knight yanked her sword free, twisting her body to shield Rein as she threw up the last of her magic into a barrier. The force of the blast sent her flying down the hallway, but she did her best to tuck herself around the smaller girl until they stopped rolling and came to a stop.

Panting, Signum opened up her hand. “Rein, are you alright?”

The smaller girl cracked her eyes open. “Y-yes, I think so.” Then she smiled. “Welcome back!”

The Wolkenritter leader released Rein, then dragged herself up, dabbing at the head wound she had just received. The blood leaking from it at forced her to close her left eye. But there was a bigger pain that dwarfed the rest.

“Rein, I'm sorry,” she said, bowing her head. “I remember everything now, my first life, and how Zanth corrupted me the first time. I was too weak to stop it then, just as I was too weak now.” Her head came up. “But through the things you helped me remember, I also recalled my pledge that day. My sword is meant to serve and protect, not to destroy.”

Rein floated up and patted Signum on the head. “We are all weak by ourselves. But that's what friends are for, to protect us.” She smiled. “Even hard-headed leaders need protecting!”

“Y-YOU-!” Both girls were interrupted and drawn to where Zanth lay... or perhaps a better term would have been 'melting.' Already, his legs had dissolved into a partial black bubbling puddle, while his torso sported a giant hole.

Signum limped her way over to him, sword in her right hand, her left hand holding onto her bloody right side. “It looks like your time is up.”

He forced a laugh, coughing up black blood. “You can't kill me. I told that brat before, that I am immortal in here.” He grinned as his torso joined the puddle. “I will be back...”

The Belkan Warrior snarled and sliced Levantine down, but his head disappeared into the puddle a split second before the sword made contact, clanging onto the floor instead.

Rein floated beside Signum, placing her hand on the bigger woman's cheek, then initiated a unison to help heal her injuries. “[Let's get out of here for now and talk with the others.]”

Signum closed her eyes as white light engulfed her body. “Ah...”

“You really overdid it,” Hayate scolded them like an overprotective parent. “Do you know how worried I was for both of you!?”

A little demon floated over her master. “I'm just upset you had all this action without me. I would have smacked you back to yourself much faster than the other twerp. Geez.” She seemed unnerved by the look on Signum's face. “What!?”

“Agito...” To the surprise of all, Signum smiled and hugged the little winged girl to her chest tightly.

“Mmmrph!” Agito replied intelligently, then managed to pull herself free. “What the hell was that about!?”

Signum just continued to smile. “I shall tell you another day.”

“Shari, what's the word?” Vita asked to change the subject, coming over to stand near her workstation.

“I can't find any trace of this 'Zanth Le Ronne' as you call him,” the technician replied, bringing up various screens of data. “I still think he's some sort of virus, and you hurt it badly. I'm guessing he's hiding somewhere for now to rebuild his strength.”

Hayate leafed through the book. “I remember what Clarius told me. Zanth could be still in this book, but I've been through all the pages, and I can't find anything out of the ordinary. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to find him.”

“I can,” Zafiras spoke up for the first time since this all began. He stood up and walked over to Hayate. “I'm a wolf; I can track anything with the proper scent.”

“It's not that simple, Zafiras,” Shari told him, sighing. “He's a magical computer virus, hidden somewhere within either Rein's subconscious and/or the Tome of the Night Sky. I don't think you can track those, nor do I think he has any kind of scent.”

Zafiras was adamant. “Everything has a scent.”

“The two times we've encountered him so far, were because he wanted to be found,” Shamal stated. “It won't be so easy this time, especially since he knows we're onto him.”

“If I can contact Clarius again, he might have a way,” Rein offered.

Zafiras switched to his human form. “Then it's settled, I will go with Rein.”

“If you find him, save him for me,” Vita told him evenly, slamming her hammer into her hand to accentuate the point. “I'll make him wish he had died all those years ago.”

The guardian beast bowed. “When I find where he is hiding, I swear I will point you straight to him.” He went to the table and lay down. “I am ready, if Rein is.”

The small girl nodded, floating over to him.

“Just a moment, Zafiras and Rein,” Shari called, tapping away furiously on her keyboard. “I'm uploading a special marker program to Rein. If you can find Zanth's hiding place, or chase him to it, we should be able to track it out here. I'm also going to hook you up to the book. Theoretically, your mental states should be able to enter it as easily as your dream worlds.”

“Understood,” the Guardian Beast and the Unison Device said as one.

When Shari and Shamal gave them the nod, the two united, and allowed themselves to drift off to sleep.

“[I almost didn't think this was going to work,]” Rein sent to him, as they descended through a void, past various images, pictures and scenery. “[I've never unisoned with you or Shamal before.]”

“[Me either,]” Zafira replied, amused. “[It's interesting. Hold on, I am going to try something.]” Concentrating, Zafira shifted to his wolf form, pleased that he had control over that. “[I function better this way, since it is my true form. I had to see if we could remain in unison during it.]”

“[This is so cool!]” Rein nearly squealed. “[The way this feels on all fours, and the way you see and hear things; it's all so different!]”

Zafiras chuckled, then he turned more serious. “[Alright, we should get started. I've been getting used to the scents around here, and the scents you carry. I've sorted out the one unique scent I've haven't been able to identify yet, so that should be him.]”

“[Wait!]” Rein stopped him. “[I think we should try to talk to Clarius first. I don't want what happened to Signum, to happen to you, too. Do you remember your first life and encounter with Zanth?]”

The Guardian Beast shook his head. “[No, but I've never believed it important. All that matters is how I may serve the master of the Tome of the Night Sky; our Lady Hayate.]”

“[Please, let's just talk to him first?]” Rein pleaded, and exhaled in relief when he acceded. She focused her thoughts on a wider range. “[Clarius? Can you hear me?]”

There was a minute of pause, and then, “[I am glad to see you are well, little one. I sense you wish to talk. Have you and your Guardian Beast close your eyes. I will guide you to my sanctum.]”

The two did as instructed, and descended.

A pair of eyes watched the wolf-beast move between two images and then get swallowed up by the darkness. A voice belonging to the eyes let out a low, pleased laughter.

“They disappeared!” Shari exclaimed suddenly.

Shamal looked up from her medical readings. “What? Where?”

Shari exhaled in frustration. “I don't know. The tracking program had them, and then it just lost the signal.” She looked up, meeting Shamal's, Signum's, and Vita's faces. “Wherever they are, they are on their own.”

The group turned their gaze to the sleeping form on the table.

“Welcome to my humble abode, you two.”

Rein floated over to hug the old man. “Oops, I'm sorry, I just feel close to you for some reason.”

He chuckled. “It's understandable. You carry a small part of the original keeper of the tome, the one your current master renamed Reinforce.” He turned to the wolf. “And it is good to see you again, Noble Beast.”

Zafiras switched to human form. “I am sorry, but I do not remember you.”

Clarius nodded, sitting back in his chair. “That is to be expected. You have had many lifetimes, and mortal beings were not meant to carry so many memories. However, your first lives should always be remembered. That is part of my function. The original Clarius left me behind as a backup. He chose each of the guardian knights due to the righteousness in their hearts as the ultimate protection for the knowledge in the Tome. And should they become corrupted, to restore them.”

“Then why didn't you?” Rein wondered aloud. “The book was corrupted for a long time.”

“Zanth was more devious and powerful then Clarius suspected,” the old man told them, looking tired. “He changed the name to the Book of Darkness and seperated the guardian knight programs from it temporarily. After their corruption, he wiped the book's memory, then reattached them. I barely managed to protect myself and hide. His magical programs roamed out there. Had I acted, I would have been destroyed, and there would have been no hope.

He rubbed his eyes. “And then Hayate came along, restoring your emotions and renaming the book. Even if you didn't have your original memories, you were returning to who you were. I felt that was good enough. I didn't see that Zanth had managed to hide in the book itself.” He pointed his cane at Zafiras. “But if you are to confront him, you must relearn who you are. He knows you, all of the guardian knights. Even your memories may not be enough, however.”

“If they will help, then I stand ready to receive them,” Zafiras informed him, bowing to one knee.

“It's not that easy,” Clarius replied. “Hayate, subconsciously, has managed to start the process of separation for the knight system. Her wish that you become real again has been granted. And while this means the book will end it's existence when Hayate dies, I have come to believe it's for the best. Such an accumulation of magical knowledge is too risky, too tempting, to have in one place. Rein.”

The little girl floated closer. “Yes?”

“Rein still has a strong link to the book, and so I can download your memories into her, and then she can pass them onto you,” he explained. “Are you ready?”

At her firm nod, Clarius began the second transfer, data rolling across Rein's temporarily blank eyes. He then collapsed back into his chair as it was finished.

Rein blinked her eyes, looking down at the old man. “Are you alright?”

He smiled and warded her off. “Just takes a bit out of me. I'll be fine in awhile. You go ahead and transfer them to Zafiras.”

“I don't think that's a good idea!”

Zafiras twisted around and went into wolf-form. “Look out!”

The Guardian Beast yowled and white spikes shot up from the ground, but the black ooze that erupted from the fireplace merely flowed around it. Rein barely had time to throw up her hands in a hastily cast spell, before it engulfed her and Clarius. Zafiras howled and dove towards Rein's last known location, swiping with his claws and biting with his teeth to get the ooze off her. Part of the ooze formed a tentacle and smacked the beast halfway across the room.

“I'm sorry, we can't have that,” the voice came again, this time forming half a face in the large blob. “It's good to see you again, old friend. You may not remember me, but I'm your old master, Zanth Le Ronne.”

Zafiras dragged himself to his feet, growling. “I don't care who you are. But you will let them go or I will tear you to pieces.”

Zanth laughed. “You can't do anything to me in this form. And now I have reclaimed the girl, and captured that pesky old man's last program. I knew she couldn't have broken my control over Signum by herself; she had to have had help. And this little pocket is such a marvelous hiding spot; I never knew it was here!”

“I am more powerful than you know,” the Guardian Beast informed him in a threatening manner. But he knew Zanth was at least partially right; he couldn't attack indiscriminately, not while Rein was still in there somewhere. [I'll have to dig her out, but he also mentioned this place as a hiding spot; Can they detect us on the outside?]

Roaring at the top of his lungs, Zafiras entrapped the blob in a cage of white spikes, but he didn't stop there. Pouring all his magic into it, the whole room began to shake, spikes erupting all over the place, until the whole room fell apart. The spikes shattered then, destroying the hidden pocket and returning them all to the void of falling images.

Zanth destroyed his own cage and remarked sadly, “Well, there goes a perfectly good hideout. But I don't think you thought this through; I'm pitch black, and so is most of these surroundings!”

In an instant, they were no longer in the void, but in a forest clearing. “I had already realized that was going to be the case, so we will fight here.”

The black blob looked around, and chuckled. “My, you guardian knights do love this place. When I broke each and every one of you, this was always the place you returned to in your mind. Your safe haven, before I destroyed it as well!”

Zafiras roared and charged.

Rein awoke to the ebony void all around her, lit only by the soft glow of her nearby open book. Then she recalled casting the ice shell spell shortly before she was engulfed by the ebony blob. She was relieved to see it was still intact, protecting her from the flowing ooze all around her.

“Zafiras!” she called suddenly in worry. “Clarius!”

“The old man can't hear you right now,” Zanth's voice echoed around her. “But would you like to see your little doggy?”

Without waiting for an answer, Zanth projected a screen shown from his perspective. Several thin and sharp tentacles hung in view, hovering over Zafiras, who had many red lashes covering his body. He was breathing hard, and Rein could see he was approaching his limit, yet he fought on.

“Did you know that breaking an animal is vastly similar to breaking a human?” Zanth told her matter-of-factly. “He's already beginning to react, the whips leading him, punishing him when he doesn't go where I want him to. I admit, he was harder to break than the other three. The loyalty of a dog is something.”

“Stop it!” Rein cried, watching in helplessness as Zafiras suffered more lashes, breaking some of the whips, only to have them reform. She grabbed her book. “I'll stop you!”

Zanth chuckled. “Are you sure you want to do that? You'll have to drop your barrier to cast a spell, and in that instant I'll have you. Then how will you save your precious pet?”

Rein froze, realizing he was right. She was fine for the moment as long as the book kept up the spell. She inhaled and screamed at the top of her lungs.

“ZAFIRAS RUN!”

Outside, Zafiras panted heavily, unable to hear Rein at all. He knew his attacks weren't getting anywhere; he really had no way of damaging an amorphous blob. But there had to be a way, he knew, as he dodged one whip, blocked another with a shield and cut several more with his fangs and claws.

But he didn't see the one that had tunneled underground, and now broke out into the open to grab his tail, slamming him into the ground.

“Return to me and I will let the girl and the old man live,” Zanth offered him. “I'll even guarantee that I won't hurt your current master, this Hayate girl.”

The battered beast dragged himself to his feet once more. “Maybe, but I won't let you touch the rest of the knights. I know you want them, and I want help you do that!”

The blob chuckled. “Give up, Zafiras.”

“...give up, Zafiras,” a female voice said.

He shook his head.

“You're yesterday's product, obsolete!” Zanth continued.

“...we're obsolete to them, yesterday's product,” another one said.

Zafiras's head dropped, eyes shut tight for a moment, as the memory flashed in his head. [I have to focus. There has to be a way!]

The whips came in again, slashing at his legs, body, and head. Zafiras endured it as long as he could, then his legs could no longer support his weight and he fell to the ground.

Zanth paused. “Is that all you have? I remember you lasting longer the first time. Have you given up?”

“Don't... hurt.. the others...” he panted, coughing up blood.

“Your loyalty is quite impressive,” Zanth complimented him. “Maybe I might see fit to spare some, if you come with me.” The black tentacles wrapped themselves around his body, pulling him into his amorphous body. “And you can continue to protect Rein under my care. You will be her shield, and my fang.”

“We are their fangs and shields!” he shouted back at the orange-haired familiar.

“No!” Rein shouted, spreading out her arms and legs, her bubble changing form to mimic her, her head orienting on her target.

Before Zanth could realize what she had planned, Rein collapsed her arms to her sides and closed her legs. The bubble changed form to more like a thin bullet as Rein half-swam and half-tunneled at magic-enhanced speeds, striking Zafiras on the cheek.

The bubble popped so that she could touch him, and then shout, “Remember!”

“Zafiras, did you hear the news?” Hayden the griffin told him as the wolf walked into the Guardian Beast barracks. “Our unit is being deactivated. We are being disbanded. We are no longer needed.”

He had heard. “We are still loyal to our masters and will serve in any capacity they need us for.”

“Oh, give up, Zafiras,” a female voice said. “Blind loyalty while we're being used and then tossed aside like animals is naïve, even for you.”

He looked up as Ranna descended, shifting from her large bat form to human form, her long black hair unfurling. Her words did have a mark of truth, which stung.

“T-That's not all!” came a new voice from the dark corner that he recognized as Theevus the rat. “I heard about the new weapons! Powerful technology-based ones, with the ability to level cities at a time. No magic needed!”

Information and spying was his specialty; Zafiras knew Theevus's information was always accurate. All the battles the Guardian Beast unit had won, and all the operations they had completed successfully... did it mean nothing to their masters?

“And there's more!” Theevus added nervously, getting the attention of all in the room. He was always the cowardly type, but his fear this time was very evidently real. “We are to be destroyed, and our magic reclaimed.”

A deep snarl sounded from the corner of the room. “Indeed it does, noble Hayden. I think it is time to remind the humans of our power.”

Zafiras watched the mighty Serpentine Dragon uncoil himself, head lifting to hover over all of them. “Ghan, what are you planning?”

“We will strike and crush our would-be overlords,” the dragon roared. “It is time we became our own masters.”

Other beasts joined in the call, but Zafiras shouted, “No! If we attack them, we are no better than they are! I say we just leave and form our own community.” To his comfort, he saw several of the beasts nodding, including Ranna. He knew he could always count on her to support him.

“They will never let us go,” Ghan countered. “They gave us life, and feel that they own us! How do you propose we get away safely.”

Zafiras grinned. “I have made a contact in one of the foot soldier units. We are not the only ones who are being sidelined by this weapon development. I plan to meet with her tonight; we can escape tonight.”

Ghan's face came down to stare the in the wolf's own. “You have tonight, Zafiras. If you fail, we do it my way.”

“Can you do it, then?” Zafiras asked the figure under cover of dark, in an empty section of town. Above them, the Belkan fortress kept watch silently.

“Of course I can,” the female voice came from under the hood. “Provided your rat's intel is correct.”

“Theevus is always correct,” Zafiras replied.

“Then as we agreed, you help escort my people out as well,” she stated, lifting her mallet with both hands. “And I will take care of the weapons and provide enough of a distraction for us to escape!”

An explosion echoed on a far parapet of the fortress, then a siren sounded, startling both figures. “What's going on?”

“I don't know, but we'll have to take our chance now,” the hooded girl told him, leaping to a roof top.

“Agreed!” Zafiras called after her, then sprinted back to the barracks. He had a bad feeling in his gut.

“Zafiras!” Ranna called to him as he entered. “Ghan took most of the beasts to attack the fortress!”

The wolf growled in anger, the nearly empty barracks confirming the truth of her statement. Only a couple others remained. “Theevus, Hayden, Ranna, why did you stay behind?”

“I'm not much of a fighter, heh heh,” Theevus admitted.

Hayden stood and spread his wings. “Ghan's words rang true to me, but so did yours. I do not wish to become like the humans.”

Ranna knelt down and wrapped her arms around Zafiras's mane. “And you know me; I couldn't go anywhere without you.”

“Thank you,” he told them all. “But we have work to do. My contact is starting her portion of the plan. Theevus, you go ahead and escape. Ranna, Hayden and I will round up as many beasts as we can. We need to escape.”

The rat locked gazes with the wolf, and nodded in thanks. He wasn't a fighter, and asking this of him was too much. He scampered out his hole and disappeared.

The remaining three beasts took to the skies towards the fortress. In the distance, they could see Ghan had expanded his size to max, wrapping himself around one of the larger inner parapet's, and filling the inner sanctum with fire.

“Spread out!” Zafiras told the other two. “Grab who you can, then meet outside the city in our training area in 30 minutes!”

Hayden and Ranna nodded, the latter of the two fixing him with a gentle look even in bat form. The three split up.

The battle did not go well, as Zafiras had feared. The royal guards had counterattacked, using new projectile mass weapons, which didn't require any magic. Many of the beasts had already been cut down, including Ghan. Zafiras had fought through to him, but couldn't save him. In his last moments, the great dragon telepathically sent three words: “[You were right.]”

Zafiras had only managed to extract four of his brethren; Four out of a hundred. Ranna had found five, but Hayden hadn't returned at all. In a surprising move, three more had shown up, being told by Theevus, who had died in the escape. None of them would ever question the rat's bravery again.

The 14 beasts provided cover for the group of retreating humans from Zafiras's contact's squad, and their families, and parted ways a good distance away from the castle. The beasts had fulfilled their contract and wanted nothing more to do with humans.

But the saint's army wanted revenge, and caught up with them the next morning using strange new flying vehicles. The badly outnumbered group of beasts fought, but were overpowered. In the last moments, a badly-injured Ranna bound Zafiras and used her illusion magic to hide him. The magic wore off after the humans left.

“Why!?” Zafiras begged to know in human form, cradling a bloody human-form Ranna in his arms. “Why did you do it?”

She reached up to touch his cheek. “You are destined for something greater. One of us had to live to carry on the story of the Guardian Beasts. I will always love you, Zafiras, but you must live! Please, for me, LIVE!”

Her arm dropped limply and her eyes closed. Zafiras's cried her name, his shout devolving into a howl.

The only way *True happy end* could ever happen would be if say, the Fate we see isn't the Fate we think she is. Picture this, the Fate in the AltS world is nothing more then a Neverwas, the potential of that world's Fate had she not died, coincidentally that Fate is also known as our Fate. We haven't seen the Nanoha World we know and love. For all we know Real!Fate is off there being happy while Neverwas!Fate just thinks that's where she belongs, while in reality she doesn't. :3

*raises hand* I support this! Then there's not that adultery thing Dezo rightfully mentioned.

Quote:

either that or AltS!Nanoha falls for Hayate, I'm all for that.

*DOUBLE HANDS UP* I support this too! Hayate needs love!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rising Dragon

Yes, the images are appearing for me now, thanks!

Someone needs to resurrect AltS!Fate and AltS!Alicia for AltS!Nanoha to look after.

Hey Satashi, I think you started your own ship war. AltS!Nanoha vs Original!Nanoha!

AltS!Nanoha! Go! Go AltS!Nanoha! GOOOOO! XDDDDDD

Quote:

either that or AltS!Nanoha falls for Hayate, I'm all for that.

*cough* Hayate for Original Nanoha...

Quote:

Someone needs to resurrect AltS!Fate and AltS!Alicia for AltS!Nanoha to look after.

Hmmm...

---

It's been awhile since I posted a Two and a Half Women Moment so...here! :3

Spoiler for Two and Half Women Part 3!:

A Two and a Half Women moment...3

I love you, mom....not!

By: Alavon

After going over Fate's bills for the twentieth time that morning to make sure what she saw was right and paying them accordingly (how can she spend $8,000 in one week on sex and booze!?), Nanoha Takamachi yawned and stretched, happy to escape Fate's bondage of irresponsibility.

"Oh, this feels GOOD!" she said and at that moment, the doorbell rang.

She spoke too soon...

"Who could that be?" wondered Nanoha, standing up from the chair. After almost tripping over Vivio's skateboard (Fate bought it for her much to Nanoha's dismay), she arrived at the door. She said a silent prayer (She never knew what kind of piss off husband or wife would do to her if she opened the door...) and very, very slowly opened the door.

Location: In a place of extremes. From below freezing to above boiling.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DezoPenguin

Get ready for it...

BACKLOG BREAKER!!!

Now this is a decent Backlog Breaker

Quote:

Originally Posted by DezoPenguin

I'm still rooting for the original-universe Nanoha. I mean, while AlternateUniverse!Nanoha may definitely be a woobie in need of love, she's basically trying to get her alternate self's wife to cheat on said alternate self. Soap opera drama, yes, but I despise adulterers.

Ah, so does this mean I'm not alone? Good to know! I'm also in favor of Original!Nanoha, since, hey, Fate is her wife, darn it all!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alavon

@DezoPenguin: Dezo...I think you're the only one who supports the 'Origina'l Nanoha...

Spoiler for DezoPenguin is a God...:

Not at all, I also support Original!Nanoha

That pic made me laugh for two minutes straight. XD! Thanks Alavon. Would you happen to have the original pic of your avatar, btw?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liitha

Hey! I'm with the original Nanoha too Fate belongs to her, but Alts!Nanoha need some love too... Oh.. teh drama...

LMAO at the picture, btw. I just came home and that was the first thing I saw xD

Good, good, another member to the club, please be welcome!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadiantBeam

Honestly, after rereading in perspective, I'm on the middle ground of not knowing which Nanoha to support!

Doesn't help that in a RL scenario of this I was in Original!Nanoha's role, so.... >>;;

Now this is funny.

*hugs RB tightly*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liitha

But then, I imagine the original Nanoha freaking out in another dimension. I mean, having your wife trapped in the middle of nowhere doesn't happen everyday, it would be unfair for her if Fate stayed with Alts!N

Thank you! Finally someone else sees why it's unfair for Alternate!Nanoha to end up with Original!Fate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheShinySword

Ah! I got it! Why I'm rooting for AltS!Nanoha.

'cause life's being a real bitch to her. Seriously it's not fair. Here she is, living this meh life. She has friends and family but she's a cripple who can't do the job she loved. And she doesn't have ~+~Romance~+~ in her life, which automatically means she fails as a human being (that, for those uninformed, was sarcasm.)

Then what does fate (note the little letter) do? Drops Fate on her, and with Fate (the insensitive jerk ) comes the details of the life she could have had but didn't because AltS!Fate was a foolish foolish fool. ... That. Sucks. Ass. I can't really get over how freakin' unfair and cruel her situation is.

Of course she is taking advantage of that situation. But really can you blame her?

The only way *True happy end* could ever happen would be if say, the Fate we see isn't the Fate we think she is. Picture this, the Fate in the AltS world is nothing more then a Neverwas, the potential of that world's Fate had she not died, coincidentally that Fate is also known as our Fate. We haven't seen the Nanoha World we know and love. For all we know Real!Fate is off there being happy while Neverwas!Fate just thinks that's where she belongs, while in reality she doesn't. :3

either that or AltS!Nanoha falls for Hayate, I'm all for that.

Btw: wouldn't it be fun if Jail Scaglietti was more like the Someone For Everyone Jail >:3 search your feelings you know it to be true Satashi.

Er...

Good grief, Shiny! It makes one feel bad to root for the original with these kinds of reasons for the alternate version! But seriously, I still support Original!Nanoha. Life might've been a bitch for Alt!Nanoha but still. Does it justify taking away the happiness of her other self? Could Fate actually see Alt!Nanoha as her wife? There are many factors to be considered here.

Besides, Fate already explicitly stated she doesn't mean to cheat on her wife, even if it is with her wife's alternate self.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rising Dragon

Someone needs to resurrect AltS!Fate and AltS!Alicia for AltS!Nanoha to look after.

It would be funny if AltS!Alicia was revived and she fell for Nanoha.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadiantBeam

Hey Satashi, I think you started your own ship war. AltS!Nanoha vs Original!Nanoha!

Nobody's flaming each other and there are no "OMG! You don't support the OTP, YOU SHOULD DIE!" statements yet, so let's not call it a war.

Quote:

Originally Posted by deathcurse

*raises hand* I support this! Then there's not that adultery thing Dezo rightfully mentioned.

Quote:

Originally Posted by deathcurse

*DOUBLE HANDS UP* I support this too! Hayate needs love!

Indeed, Hayate needs some love... but unfortunately I fully ship HayatexRossa so I don't think I could see her with Nanoha...

Ok, so hopefully this can be the final revision of my Vivio/Yuuno fic. Aside from minor tweaks in the earlier parts of the fic, I've only done any significant changes to Yuuno's lines near the end since they were in deed rather blunt.

Spoiler for End part:

“I do love Vivio a lot,” He admitted. “But I can’t say if this love is romantic or not. To be sure, I’d like to give a relationship between us a shot. So, Nanoha, Fate…” His eyes moved between both parents, meeting Fate’s eyes before he locked looks with Nanoha. “With your permission, I would like to accept her feelings and allow mine a chance to grow.”

Nanoha considered the man who was her life long friend and some one she cared for deeply. She knew he was mature, polite, considerate, intelligent and responsible. The look in his eyes and the look of exuberant bliss that had erupted on Vivio’s face when he made his request was enough to tell Nanoha that her daughter would fair well in his hands. Fate indicated her agreement with a reassuring smile.

“Oh thank you so much, mama!” Barely able to contain her excitement, Vivio reached over and wrapped her arms around her new boyfriend in a firm embrace. “Please take good care of me from now on, Yuuno-san!”

“I’ll be in your care as well, Vivio.” Yuuno returned the hug, thinking he definitely wasn’t going to mind getting used to it.

Now the hard part is thinking of a title. Only ones I can come up with are pretty lame and not very suitable for a semi-serious fic like this one, so I'm very open to suggestions.

Also, out of curiosity, how many of you got the reference in this part:

Quote:

“This is amazing, Yuuno-san!” Vivio cried in delight. “I never knew the ancient Nodos tribe had the power to over come black holes!”

“Yeah, they were impressive beasts to be sure.” Yuuno nodded. “If such powerful beings existed today, we’d all be in trouble.”

NerdGirl!Vivio doesn't sound like a bad idea. I bet she'd look good in glasses

@Fuyu_no_Sora: I agree with you, Alts!Nanoha ending up with Hayate would be... odd, they have been friends for a long time and falling in love at this point...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00-Raiser

NerdGirl!Vivio doesn't sound like a bad idea. I bet she'd look good in glasses

D:! ...

Is not a bad idea... at all. Too bad Yuuno isn't her same age (or at least, a couple of years older), a fic about how she falls for her sempai would be great

Though I think I'm too attached to ViCia (thanks to RB mostly), and for Yuuno.. my favorite pairing of him would be Hayate, I just love them *-* Gah, I don't think I've seen a fic fully dedicated to those two i-i As for the spanish fandom... hell no, they would burn me alive just with the thought of it